10 Astonishing Castles You Should Visit In Denmark

Here’s a list comprising eight absolutely astonishing castles and strongholds that you should visit in Hamlet’s land — Denmark. Keep in mind that this is not a top, but a list. Therefore, all of the following historical Danish landmarks are worth visiting depending on your preference. As such, the castles have been listed in no particular order.

For more manors, palaces, castles and strongholds from Denmark, please check the links which provided at the bottom of this webpage.

10. Nyborg

Nyborg castle is a prominent landmark in Danish medieval history. Located in the city of Nyborg on the island of Fyn (or Funen in English), the fortress is known for being the place were King Eric V of Denmark signed the kingdom’s first constitution in the year 1282. Furthermore, Nyborg castle is also renowned for being the site of the first Danish parliament, the Danehof, during the High Middle Ages.

9. Hammershus

Hammershus is the largest medieval fortification in entire Scandinavia. It stands 74 metres above sea level in the north of the island of Borholm in the Baltic Sea. It was raised in the 13th century as either a residence of the archbishop of Lund or as a crusading base for King Valdemar II of Denmark.

The ruins of the Hammershus castle as depicted in a 19th century painting by Danish artist Anton Eduard Kieldrup. Image source: www.commons.wikimedia.org

8. Dragsholm Castle

Dragsholm Castle is a baroque building located on the Odsherred peninsula on the island of Sjælland (Zealand in English). It was initially built during the early part of the 13th century by the bishop of Roskilde. As part of the Reformation, the structure was passed on to the Danish crown and had been used as a prison for noblemen throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.

It was ultimately in the late 17th century that the castle was sold to the nobleman Frederik Christian Adeler and subsequently reconstructed as it is today. Currently, the structure is a hotel and restaurant. It is also rumoured that the building is haunted by three ghosts.

7. Egeskov Castle

Egeskov Castle is situated on the third-largest island of Denmark, Fyn. While on the exterior it features a predominant Late Gothic architectural style, the interior has a Renaissance design.

It was first mentioned at the round of the 15th century as pertaining to the owners Lydike and Jørgen Skinkel. The castle is home to a series of local museums and is Europe’s best preserved Renaissance water castle.

6. Kronborg

Kronborg is a World Heritage Site since 2000 and certainly one of Denmark’s most reputed touristic attractions. It is mostly referred in English to as Elsinore, the denomination stemming from William Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’, hence being widely known as ‘Hamlet’s Castle’.

Kronborg is situated in the town of Helsingør, on the island of Sjælland, and pertains to the capital region of Denmark. For more details and opening hours, please visit Kronborg’s official website here.

5. Rosenborg

Rosenborg is a castle which was built in the style of the Dutch Renaissance in 1606. It was initially intended to be a summerhouse for King Chrisitan IV of Denmark, but was expanded several times and as such completed to its current state in 1624.

It is located in Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen, and includes the country’s oldest royal garden, built by King Christian IV shortly after the completion of the main building.

3. Frederiksborg

Frederiksborg is a Renaissance castle located in Hillerød, Zealand. It was designed as a royal residence for King Christian IV in the 17th century. It is an architectural complex that is placed on three islets and surrounded by a lake. There is also a park located to the north and west of the main building which consists of a Baroque garden.

2. Sønderborg

Sønderborg is a castle situated in the middle of the namesake town, on the island of Als, in the south of Jutland. The building includes a museum which focuses on the history and culture of the local area.

It was built in the 13th century and grew to become one of the strongest fortifications of Denmark during the Middle Ages. It was subsequently rebuilt from 1550 to 1560 as the Renaissance complex it is today. The rebuilding process was planned by Dutch architect Hercules von Oberberg.

1. Spøttrup Castle

Spøttrup Castle is situated seventeen kilometres north-west of the town of Skive, in the north of Jutland. The museum inside the castle is open to visitors from the middle of April to late October each year. The castle is one of the best preserved of its kind in Denmark and is surrounded by a lake.